The Heart of David

Updated on June 19, 2013

“I want to have the heart of David.” Really? I remember saying these famous
last words many years ago not knowing what I was asking for. Maybe you can remember
saying the same prayer. It’s not a bad thing to ask. It’s just a loaded
request. It requires perseverance.

God develops this kind of heart through the crucible of
pain. If one is able to weather betrayal, rejection, shame, hatred, jealousy, unforgiveness, and come back with a heart free from bitterness and full of love, then you
understand the path towards this level of maturity. God enlarges the heart via
suffering. He looks for these kinds of disciples. He grows us in love.

God rewards and promotes hearts. 1 Samuel 16:7 states,
"Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature because I
have rejected him. For God sees not as man sees. For man looks at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." God passed by all of Jesse's
swarthy young sons and chose a young, ruddy boy who had an insatiable desire to
talk to God and play his lyre in the wilderness. His heart was right toward God
and man. He traveled light.

2 Chronicles 16:9 states, “For the eyes of the Lord move to
and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is
completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will
surely have wars.” He searches high and low for someone like David. He will strongly
support and promote this kind of person.

Does it come about naturally? No. So how can one develop a
heart like this? How is a heart like this forged? How do you grow a heart like
David’s? First, the heart of David is the heart of God (1 Sam 13:14). We are all
called to be like God in character (Matthew 5:48). Worship leaders or worship
team members do not have the corner market on this most noble of quests - we
are all called to have the heart of David.

Secondly, before I dive into the how, I would like you to
see what the finished product looks like. Turn with me to 2 Samuel 1:1-27. This
chapter talked about the death of Saul and David’s initial response. Instead of
rejoicing over the demise of his enemy he mourned. He tore his clothes. He
wrote a funeral song extolling the virtues of his king. He commanded all to
remember the lyrics and tune.

Many people would have done a jig upon hearing this type of
news. David had been betrayed, hunted, falsely accused, speared, and rejected
by Saul. He spent years in the wilderness keeping one step ahead of his blood thirsty leader. He never once lifted up his hand against the Lord’s anointed. In death
he still honored and respected this deranged king. He was thankful for him. This is the heart of David.

What is the difference between obedience and submission? We
can obey outwardly, but our inner man could be standing up against
authority. Submission is obeying
and respecting the person or persons giving the order. Submission requires a heart
that wants the best and loves the leader issuing the commands. The heart
matches the actions. It’s not being a doormat, but requires great faith in
God’s sovereignty to work through fallible people. Ultimately, submission to earthly
authority is submission to heavenly authority. David trusted God while he
honored Saul. We need to do the same.

How does one develop this type of heart? We can’t. Only God
can, but we can cooperate to help the process along. Hebrews 12:1-17 gives us a
window on the steps toward full maturity.

1. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding
us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by
sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 You
have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against
sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as
sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when
you are reproved by Him; 6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He
scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you endure;
God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not
discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become
partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we
had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather
be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a
short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that
we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be
joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it
yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands
that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for
your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but
rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without
which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the
grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it
many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who
sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even
afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he
found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Please forgive me for laying out the process in a how-to
format because the journey toward perfecting the heart is not so cut and dry.
However, if one will apply these truths in the midst of the challenges of life,
one will grow up into full maturity.

First, one needs to turn from all sin, any hindrances, and
keep their focus on Christ through prayer and staying in His presence. David stayed in His presence. We need to do the same. Second, one needs to trust in God
that his perfect plan will come about through the trials and tribulations they
face. Practicing these two things will ensure a heart free from bitterness and
one filled with love. Many have gone down the path of anger, unforgiveness, and
bitterness, derailing their destiny and call. They defile many in the process. Those who entrusted themselves to God
in the midst of the discipline, however, developed the peaceful fruit of
righteousness and moved on into the promise land (v.11).

All Christians are called to have the heart of David. It’s
really the heart of God. It focuses on pleasing God over pleasing man, honor over shaming,
forgiveness over unforgiveness,
blessing over cursing, seeing the good over seeing the bad, thankfulness
over ingratitude, patience over impatience, kindness over meanness, magnanimity
over pettiness, love over hate, and faith over unbelief. It’s a noble quest.
It’s the only quest.

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Comments 2 comments

I enjoyed reading your hub and you had many valid points. Could you permit me to add that David was a man after God's own heart also because he stayed in God's presence for an extended period of time. I believe that as we thirst after God like the deer thirsts after water in a dry land we will become more like David. Thanks for such an inspiring hub.

The Minstrel 5 years ago from Hawaii Author

Good point. Thank you. Focusing on Christ through prayer is a packed statement which includes spending time in God's presence. However, it is good to break it down. Thank oyu for your comments.